The task of conceiving is frequently associated solely with the woman, given that she will carry the baby, manage her cycle, adopt healthy habits, consume the right vitamins and so forth. However, it’s important to remember that conception is a duo act. There are several steps your partner can undertake during the journey towards pregnancy to provide assistance, motivation, and enhance the likelihood of a successful conception.
Nailing the Perfect Timing
To maximize your chances of conceiving swiftly, it’s crucial to time your sexual activity accurately within your menstrual cycle. For those with regular cycles, ovulation usually occurs about two weeks before menstruation.
As per The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, your peak fertility period would be roughly five days before anticipated ovulation up to a day after it, with the likelihood increasing as ovulation approaches. However, determining the exact ovulation and subsequent fertile window for those with irregular cycles can be somewhat challenging.
Visit a Doctor
If you encounter challenges in trying to conceive, you should schedule a meeting with your Natural Fertility Doctor. They can perform fertility examinations, assess if lifestyle modifications are required, and, if needed, recommend suitable treatments.
Your healthcare provider might evaluate your follicle-stimulating hormone levels, a hormone responsible for egg release. In certain cases, low FSH levels have been associated with inconsistent ovulation, even when menstrual cycles appear regular. This could also lead to the absence of ovulation during the middle of your cycle, thereby significantly changing your fertility period.
Stop Contraception
Certain contraceptive methods like male and female condoms, the cap, diaphragm, and natural family planning do not influence your menstrual cycles or fertility once you cease their use. However, other methods including the combined contraceptive pill and contraceptive injections may require some time for your menstrual cycles to normalize post discontinuation.
Even though there’s no hindrance in starting to try for a baby immediately after stopping these contraceptives, some women prefer waiting for a few months. This allows them to restore their natural cycles, start folic acid intake, and adequately prepare their bodies.
Consume Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are uniquely formulated to meet the nutritional needs of a developing fetus. They contain larger amounts of folic acid, crucial for the correct fusion of your baby’s neural tube during the pregnancy’s second and third weeks.
Since you may not realize you’re pregnant during this time, it’s recommended to ingest folic acid while attempting to get pregnant. Vitamin D is another fertility-boosting nutrient. It generates sex hormones for both genders. Deficiency in vitamin D can cause decreased estrogen levels, and it has been identified that about 40% of women with ovulation issues suffer from a vitamin D deficiency.
Track Your Ovulation
The fertile window is the period in your menstrual cycle where you are most likely to conceive. It happens around the middle of your cycle. This is when ovulation occurs, enabling the possibility of conception or the fertilization of an egg.
Keeping track of your menstrual cycle helps identify your fertile window. This increases your chances of becoming pregnant. Now, determine when you are ovulating. Since an egg needs to be released for conception to take place, understanding your ovulation period is crucial for timing intercourse effectively. Various methods are available to help determine your most fertile days, from observing changes in your cervical mucus and basal body temperature to using ovulation predictor kits.
Endnote
Facing difficulties in conceiving immediately can be a tough experience, but it’s crucial to understand that this is often normal. Patience in such situations becomes key. The absence of instant conception doesn’t imply that you’ll never bear a child. Maintain excitement and joy while trying to have a baby, don’t shy away from exploring new things, and most importantly, keep your stress levels in check.
